From Williams Grove Speedway
MECHANICSBURG – Steve Buckwalter of Royersford won the first Williams Grove Speedway 410 sprint feature of his career Friday night, wiring the field from the second starting spot for the victory aboard the Clair and Jan Ritter No. 17B machine.
In 358 sprint action, Pat Cannon of Etters pulled off a last lap, last corner pass of Derek Frohlich to record his sixth oval victory of the season and the 20th of his career at the track.
The initial start of the 25-lap 410 sprint main was red-flagged when Justin Henderson spun in front of the field in the first corner and collected Rick Lafferty and Mark Coldren. There were no injuries.
On both the initial start and the ensuing restart, Buckwalter sliced across the bottom of the track entering the first corner to snare the lead from polesitter Derek Sell, also of Royersford.
Initially, Buckwalter was able to pull away from rookie Sell although as the race approached the 10 to go mark and its only caution flag, Sell was able to close slightly in traffic.
Seventh starter Brian Leppo came to fourth early and threatened to be a factor as did fourth starter Adam Wilt but following the lap-15 restart after Chad Layton stopped on the speedway, Buckwalter again pulled away, taking the victory.
Sell drifted backward over the waning laps to end up 10th.
Wilt moved into second on the lap-15 restart but failed to close. Leppo ended up third with 10th starter Tyler Walker in fourth and Aaron Ott fifth.
Sixth through ninth went to Alan Krimes, Brent Marks. Brian Montieth and point leader Greg Hodnett who started 19th.
Heats went to Buckwalter, Henderson and Wilt.
Cannon started 12th in the 20-lap 358 feature and was up to eighth by the time the races only caution flag unfurled with five laps down for a stopped Logan Schuchart.
The trio of Schuchart, Cannon and Matt Boland had been racing for position in the second corner when Schuchart and Cannon made contact however Schuchart was the only car to stop after nearly turning over.
Ricky Stonebraker had been leading from the outset only to see Frohlich take command on the restart.
One-time 2010 winner Scott Geesey moved into second with nine away but failed to close on the leader while Cannon came to third and failed to close on either of the frontrunners.
However with three to to, Geesey looped his car in the fourth corner and kept going but the fracas allowed Cannon to get by and quickly run down the leader.
Cannon went high off of the fourth corner with the checkers in sight to get around Frohlich for the victory.
Frohlich was second followed by Cory Haas, Geesey and Stonebraker.
Sixth throught 10th went to Chris Shuttlesworth, Steve Fannasy, Amy Ott, Matt Boland and Blane Heimbach
Heats were taken by Cannon, Geesey, Fannasy and Jay Reichard. The consolation went to Tim Berkheimer.
Williams Grove Speedway extends get well wishes to oval staffer Denise Ellis and invites cards and well wishes to be sent to Mrs. Ellis at: 107 Coxe St., Hazleton, PA 18201. Words of encouragement and concern would be greatly appreciated.
FEATURE FINISHES, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010:
410 sprint feature, 25 laps – 1. Steve Buckwalter, 2. Adam Wilt, 3. Brian Leppo, 4. Tyler Walker, 5. Aaron Ott, 6. Alan Krimes, 7. Brent Marks, 8. Brian Montieth, 9. Greg Hodnett, 10. Derek Sell, 11. Fred Rahmer, 12. Mark Smith, 13. Keith Kauffman, 14. Don Kreitz Jr., 15. Nick Schlauch Jr., 16. Bill Stine, 17. Troy Fraker, 18. Danny Dietrich, 19. Chad Layton, 20. Lance Dewease, 21. Justin Henderson, 22. Rick Lafferty, 23. Mark Coldren.
358 sprint feature, 20 laps – 1. Pat Cannon, 2. Derek Frohlich, 3. Cory Haas, 4. Scott Geesey, 5. Ricky Stonebraker, 6. Chris Shuttlesworth, 7. Steve Fannasy, 8. Amy Ott, 9. Matt Boland, 10. Blane Heimbach, 11. Danny Massey, 12. Brian Garland, 13. Jay Reichard, 14. Nate Hammaker, 15. Glenndon Forsythe, 16. Chad Trout, 17. Billy Johns, 18. Tim Berkheimer, 19. Eric Tomecek, 20.Kyle Moody, 21. Rich Eichelberger, 22. Brie Hershey, 23. Ted Thomas, 24. Logan Schuchart